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CNN Live Today

L.A. Schools May Ban Soda

Aired August 27, 2002 - 12:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Soda machines may bring in money for schools, but the Los Angeles School Board is expected to ban the machines from school campuses. Supporters of the ban say it's about putting student health first.
Here are the numbers: Area high schools make about $39,000 a year from the machines; middle schools make about $14,000.

Donna Tetreault of KCBS brings us the story now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YOANS ESHETE, STUDENT: It is a good idea, and it's not a good idea.

DONNA TETREAULT, CNN AFFILIATE KCBS REPORTER (on camera): Why?

ESHETE: Because I think that we should at least be able to drink a little bit of soda, but not too much.

TETREAULT (voice-over): It might not be the most popular idea among students, but experts say kids aren't growing up like they used to. Instead, they are growing out, and drinking soda is part of the problem.

According to the surgeon general, obesity is the No. 2 cause of death in the United States.

MARIE GREGOR, SCHOOL NURSE: This is the amount of sugar that a boy drinks in a week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's important to remove the soda machines from the schools, because students will choose from whatever is available to them.

TETREAULT: Now, the Los Angeles Unified School District is proposing to take matters into their own hands and remove soda machines from all campuses. Parents think it's a step in the right direction.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because of calories, and it makes them hyper.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's great, removing those sodas and drinks, you know, is a very good advantage for all the kids.

TETREAULT (on camera): Now, while the parents we talked to are all for removing soda machines, the funds generated by soda sales contribute to school programs. Those programs are likely to fizzle out.

CAPRICE YOUNG, L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: We can't just pull soda pop off of campuses, and then see our clubs and student activities not be funded. So we have to make sure that there is replacement funding for those activities.

TETREAULT (voice-over): But it's not a done deal yet. The school board is expected to discuss the issue.

In Los Angeles, Donna Tetreault, CBS 2 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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